Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 283 The Conquest

"It's only been a little over a year, and Huan Xuan can't keep up the act anymore?" Liu Daogui couldn't help but laugh as he read the secret reports sent from Jiankang and Gushu.

When Huan Wei died of illness, Huan Xuan took off his mourning clothes and began to hunt and enjoy himself, which drew attention from everyone in Jiangzuo.

Huan Wen died young, and Huan Wei supported the Huan family.

The eldest brother is like a father, yet Huan Xuan failed to even fulfill the most basic courtesy.

During the Han and Wei-Jin periods, filial piety was highly valued, and even the Sima family knew to govern the country through filial piety, but Huan Xuan did not care at all.

Huan Wei held the titles of Imperial Envoy, Military Governor of the Five Provinces of Jing, Yi, Ning, Qin, and Liang, General of the West, Commander of the Southern Barbarians, Governor of Jing Province, and Marquis of Xichang, which was equivalent to the Governor of the Western Prefecture. He was a powerful supporter of Huan Xuan in the local area.

He hasn't accomplished much over the years, but his reputation is decent. He's been guarding the Western Prefecture well, and hasn't caused any trouble.

With his death, only Huan Qian remained in the Huan family; the other Huan clan members were utterly useless.

After reading the secret report, Liu Muzhi said, "The deep-seated problems of the Jin dynasty are so severe that even Xie An is helpless against them, let alone Huan Xuan. This man has neither virtue nor great achievements, and it is difficult for him to last. It is better for him to remain still for now, because if he makes a move, he will make a mistake."

“How could he not move? Once he becomes the Duke of Chu, he will become the King of Chu, or even usurp the throne. Once he embarks on this path, there is no turning back.”

"The Commander-in-Chief should simply observe and wait and see!"

No sooner had Liu Muzhi finished speaking than Shen Qingzhi reported from outside the hall: "Commander-in-Chief, an envoy from the Wei Kingdom!"

"The State of Wei? Something big must be happening in the north." Liu Muzhi said in surprise.

"pass."

A moment later, the envoy from Wei arrived.

This time it wasn't Cui Hong, but a pale-faced scholar.

After moving the capital to Pingcheng, Tuoba Gui immediately ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, establishing the state of Wei. He ordered all officials and commoners to tie their hair up and wear hats.

Following the example of the Central Plains, he appointed governors and prefects, established various departments under the Ministry of Personnel, set up doctors of the Five Classics, increased the number of students in the Imperial Academy by three thousand, and ordered counties to search for books and collect them in Pingcheng.

He ordered that the various localities settle down, register them as households, and cultivate the land.

He abolished many of the tyrannical policies of the Later Yan dynasty, exempted taxes and provided disaster relief, cared for orphans and widows, promoted frugality, and vigorously promoted Confucianism, allowing the northern lands to regain their vitality.

"Two years ago, the Commander-in-Chief fought a fierce battle with Yao Xing in Luoyang. Now that our lord wants to take Hedong, why doesn't the General take this opportunity to recover Hongnong and Nanyang?"

Under Yao Xing's rule, the Qin state also became quite powerful. Although it failed to capture Luoyang the year before last, it took over Xiangcheng, Hongnong, Nanyang and other counties, extending its reach into the Central Plains.

After returning to Guanzhong, he defeated Qifu Qian Gui and forced him to surrender.

The following year, they besieged Later Liang, and King Lü Long of Liang was forced to surrender. At that time, Li Hao of Western Liang, Tuoba Lilugu of Southern Liang, and Juqu Mengxun of Northern Liang all paid tribute to Yao Qin. Qin's power was greatly enhanced, and it dominated Guanzhong and Qinlong.

Two tigers cannot share one mountain; Tuoba Gui was bound to clash with Yao Xing.

The river flows east to Bingzhou, to the north lies Jinyang, and to the east is Shangdang.

It is not only a strategic location, but also one of the most prosperous regions in the north.

The two salt lakes in Anyi have been natural treasure troves since the Spring and Autumn Period.

With such a large piece of meat placed in front of Tuoba Gui, how could he not be tempted?
"I've heard that you are allies with the Qin state?" Liu Daogui asked with a half-smile.

"Times have changed. Our lord offered a thousand horses to request a marriage alliance, but the Qin ruler refused and even detained our envoy, He Digan. This is a great humiliation! The commander-in-chief is also a man of courage and integrity. How can this grudge not be avenged?"

This envoy was also very eloquent.

Liu Muzhi laughed and said, "Back then, when your country attacked the Yan state, it was also under the pretext of detaining envoys..."

The biggest pretext for Tuoba Gui's attack on the Yan state was the detention of Tuoba Gu.

Once is one thing, but if it happens several times, it's hard not to wonder.

The envoy chuckled twice. “Now that the world is divided into four parts, if I do not attack Qin, Qin will surely attack me. My lord has already sent an envoy south to invite the Duke of Chu to join him in a northern expedition. I have come here specifically to inform the governor in order to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.”

Liu Daogui immediately understood Wei's intentions; he was merely the Governor of Huai and Si, and was not qualified to sit at the table at all.

Tuoba Gui first informed himself, and then contacted Huan Xuan, clearly intending to stir up trouble.

Huan Xuan is currently lacking military achievements. If he can recover Nanyang, Hongnong, and Xiangcheng and defeat the Qin army, it will be a great achievement.

This would qualify him to advance further, and also allow the State of Wei to observe the Jin army's combat strength up close...

The Southern Kingdom's strategy of using a northern expedition to usurp the throne has now become known to everyone in the world.

With Wei's provocation, Huan Xuan will surely head north.

If they were to lose, the weakness of the southern kingdom would be exposed to the state of Wei.

You could say this was a rehearsal.

Tuoba Gui was not a law-abiding citizen. Unable to conquer the Southern and Northern Yan to the east, he turned his attention to Qin and Jin...

The territory of the Wei Kingdom spans the Yin Mountains from north to south, occupying most of Hebei Province, and its strength is arguably the greatest.

The Jin dynasty suffered repeated internal strife, and its national strength was far inferior to what it once was.

If it weren't for Liu Daogui holding things up in Huai and Si, the Central Plains would have been divided up by others long ago.

"Thank you for your kind offer, but whether to attack or defend is up to the court to decide. I will not see you off further." Liu Daogui gave him the order to leave.

"Farewell!" The messenger turned and left.

Liu Muzhi said, "When Huan Xuan launches his northern expedition, the commander-in-chief must not be careless."

Huan Xuan's victory or defeat is not just his own affair; Liu Daogui will also be involved.

Given this person's personality, if he wins, his next move will definitely be to target Huaisi.

"If he were to launch a northern expedition and recover Nanyang and Hongnong, it would be a good thing."

The Western Army was already quite strong. If the Southern Kingdom seriously launched a northern expedition, the Hu people would be no match for them. If the Western Army went north, it would relieve the pressure on the Northern Army.

At present, Liu Daogui is unable to judge the pros and cons of this matter.

Everything depends on whether Huan Xuan is willing to send troops and how well the Western Army performs.

"I'm afraid Huan Xuan is misdirecting his efforts..." Liu Muzhi hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Just five days later, there was movement in the south.

Huan Xuan entered Jiankang and assembled 120,000 troops from various routes, with a large army by land and sea. Huan Xuan also took command of the army and submitted a memorial to the emperor, preparing to lead the army to launch a northern expedition against Yao Qin.

The event was very grand, with both sacrifices to Heaven and sacrifices to ancestors.

The court and the public were initially somewhat disappointed in him, but after the Northern Expedition, people's hearts were once again drawn to him.

During the more than eighty years that the elites moved south, anyone who was willing to launch a northern expedition could unite the people and boost morale.

However, more than half a month has passed, and there is still no news.

Huan Xuan continued his various performances, but not a single soldier marched north.

Meanwhile, the Wei Kingdom had already dispatched troops. Er Chen, the governor of Pingyang, led the advance, causing turmoil in Chang'an. During the day, all the cities in Guanzhong kept their gates closed.

Qin general Yao Ping, along with his subordinates Di Bozhi and Tang Xiaofang, led 40,000 troops to attack Northern Wei, capturing Qiancheng and advancing to Chaibi. Tuoba Gui then dispatched Prince Tuoba Shun of Piling and General Changsun Fei of Annan with 40,000 infantry and cavalry as vanguard to reinforce Chaibi.

To the north, war raged.

Both countries have committed troops to the river.

Such a large scale will determine who will be the hegemon of the North.

"Still no news from Jiankang?" Liu Daogui was extremely frustrated. Huan Xuan was shouting loudly about the Northern Expedition, but he didn't move an inch.

Meng Gan said, "There is news, but it's not about the Northern Expedition, but rather... Huan Xuan is preparing to be granted the title of King of Chu."

Liu Daogui was speechless.

The infighting between Qin and Wei presented Yao Xing with an opportunity to reap the benefits. Even without sending troops, sending an envoy to Chang'an to demand the return of Nanyang and Hongnong counties would likely have forced Yao Xing to abandon them.

Huan Xuan gained both face and substance.

These people, born into high-ranking families, are masters of internal strife, but utterly incompetent in dealing with outsiders...

If he doesn't send troops, the State of Wei will definitely underestimate him...

Gao Xun said, "Why not submit a memorial requesting the court to send troops?"

Liu Daogui said, "Would Huan Xuan listen to my advice? If I submit a memorial, it will only backfire."

"Why wait for the imperial court to send troops? We are strong and well-equipped now. If we go over there, we can get a piece of the pie." Liu Zun loved to join in the fun.

"This is a national war. There are more than 40,000 vanguard troops on both sides. Yao Xing and Tuoba Gui are preparing for war in the rear. If we send our small force, we won't gain anything."

Liu Daogui immediately rejected his opinion.

Another major reason is that the enemy is either cavalry or fortified city, and if Liu Daogui's small force is sent in, they might not be able to get out.

Moreover, the King of Changshan of Wei, Tuoba Zun, led 20,000 cavalrymen to garrison in Liyang, eyeing the Central Plains, so Liu Daogui could not make a move.

In the eyes of the State of Wei, whoever is its ally is the next target for attack.

"Commander, a secret message from the south!" Shen Qingzhi reported from outside.

Liu Daogui took a look and asked in confusion, "Huan Xuan has sent out troops!"

Liu Zun was extremely surprised. "He really dares to go north?"

Liu Muzhi was also surprised, "As expected of Huan Xuanwu's son, this northern expedition has secured his position as King of Chu."

However, in the afternoon, an imperial edict from Jiankang arrived.

Liu Daogui and Xin Gongjing were ordered to launch a large-scale attack on Xiangcheng County to support Huan Xuan's attack on Nanyang.

"Issue the order: Mao Dezhu will lead 3,000 infantry and cavalry as the vanguard to attack Xiangcheng; Liu Guangzhi will lead 3,000 elite troops to Huatai to defend against the Wei army; Wang Yuande will lead 2,000 troops to Fenggao to defend against the Southern Yan; and all troops in Pengcheng will assemble and sail westward!" Liu Daogui made the decision immediately.

The Central Plains is a battlefield with countless battles, and there are too many places to defend.

Xiangcheng is a thorn in the side of the Central Plains, threatening Luoyang, Yingchuan, and Runan.

Taking this place would further consolidate Liu Daogui's power in the Central Plains.

Various troops gathered, including Liu Laozhi's old troops from Pengcheng, He Danzhi's 1,700 followers, and Sun Wuzhong's 1,300 veteran soldiers from the Northern Army brought from the south.

Having spent so many years in the Northern Army, he was a contemporary of Liu Laozhi and had an extensive network of connections. After arriving in Pengcheng, he did nothing but focus on undermining Huan Xiu's influence, sending people to Guangling and Jingkou to contact his relatives and friends in the Northern Army...

These people entered the military government, were given land and houses, and received monthly stipends. They were completely devoted to Liu Daogui and had long forgotten about He Danzhi and Liu Laozhi.

Liu Daogui commanded nearly 15,000 elite troops.

Mao Dezhu, Liu Guangzhi, and Wang Yuande each took a troop, leaving Pengcheng with 1,000 elite troops, while Liu Daogui led 5,000 elite troops onto the ship.

They moved westward along the Ying River.

As long as we dare to fight, this battle won't be too ugly.

If the war goes smoothly, not only can we recover Nanyang and Hongnong, but we can also go north and get involved.

Tuoba Gui wanted to test the strength of the Jin army, so Liu Daogui prepared to give him a more intense attack.

The main army was about to enter Yingchuan, but Huan Xuan, who was to the south, had just reached Wuchang and then stopped...

Liu Daogui was extremely depressed.

Xin Gongjing and Xiahou Zongzhi at the front have already engaged the Qin army in battle, with both sides fighting fiercely at Yique.

"Huan Xuan has ordered his troops to march to Wuchang. It's not certain who he'll be dealing with!" Gao Xun brought out a leather map.

To the west of Wuchang is Nanyang, but to the northeast, across the Dabie Mountains, lies Jiujiang County, and a step further ahead are Pei County and Pengcheng County!

Liu Zun cursed, "Damn it! Huan Xuan is worse than a pig or a dog. He sent us to fight Yao Qin, and he came to dig out our secrets!"

There's no need to doubt Huan Xuan's integrity; in those days, the aristocratic families had long since lost all sense of integrity.

The dilemma facing Liu Daogui was that if he continued westward to attack Xiangcheng County, the situation would be dire if Huan Xuan suddenly turned his attention to Pengcheng.

They don't care much about dealing with the barbarians, but they have plenty of ways to deal with their own people.

"If he remains inactive, we will also remain inactive. Order us to rest and regroup on the spot!"

What a mess the Northern Expedition was supposed to be!

Liu Daogui also admired him.

However, Huan Xuan's actions also dashed Liu Daogui's hopes for him.

A huge weight has been lifted from my heart for some reason.

A prestigious family is still a prestigious family; it won't rise again just because a new person takes over.

Don't expect them to launch a northern expedition.

Huan Wen dared to launch a northern expedition because he rose from a small clan and still possessed a fierce spirit.

The blessings bestowed by a virtuous person will decline after three generations and cease after five generations—a profound truth.

"The imperial court's military order has arrived."

A dozen or so riders carrying imperial insignia galloped into the camp. The leading official shouted, "Lord Chu has ordered that Liu Daogui, the Commander-in-Chief of Huai and Si, immediately attack Xiangcheng. There must be no delay!"

"The last general takes orders."

Liu Daogui accepted the military order with both hands, as if he were receiving a hot potato.

Xiangcheng County was not easy to conquer. It had gathered 30,000 troops under Yao Shuode, Yao Liancheng, and Yao Shoudu. Yao Shuode was a veteran general who had followed Yao Xiang in battles across the land for decades, and it also had a fortified city as its base...

However, if Huan Xuan disobeyed orders, he could pin the blame for the failure of this northern expedition on himself...

"We must save Prefect Xin and General Xiahou! Issue the order to advance on Xiangcheng with great fanfare!" Liu Daogui shouted.

(End of this chapter)